May the casting speculation begin for the sequel to The Hunger Games! Lionsgate has an official short list out for the strapping lads who are up for the role of Finnick Odair, a fellow victor who appears not just in Catching Fire, but also in Mockingjay (which may or may not be split into two movies). And the not-Robert Pattinsons on that list: Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy) and Armie Hammer (The Social Network). Earlier this week, Taylor Kitsch (John Carter, Battleship) was reportedly on this list, too. And I think it’s safe to say that Hollywood is now allergic to him.
So we don’t have to deal with any racially-based “surprises” like some (moronic) people did with Rue, here is a quick reminder of how Suzanne Collins described Finnick Odair, the trident-wielding victor from District 4. From the Hunger Games Wiki:
[H]e is described as being extremely handsome. He is tall, muscular, and athletic, with tan skin, bronze-colored hair, and “incredible” sea green eyes…
When we consider the futuristic world of The Hunger Games — not to mention the growing number of racially-mixed children — determining Finnick’s actual race is far from a no-brainer. And Collins herself has said about the racial backgrounds of her characters, “It is a time period where hundreds of years have passed from now. There’s been a lot of ethnic mixing.” And that’s why there was a Facebook campaign by fans to get Jesse Williams of The Cabin in the Woods, whose background is black and Swedish and who also happens to have “incredible” green-blue eyes. Of course, there was a backlash (by kinda-racist people).
This campaign most likely did not play into the decisions of the Hollywood suits, though. But I have to admit, Hedlund looks like he might do the slightly-deranged thing well. Hammer is also believable as an extremely handsome young man who was basically pimped out by the government. Personally, I think Hedlund has an edge here because he seems, well, edgier. Hammer, who has literally been Prince Charming (in Mirror Mirror, which we’ll just go ahead and forget about now that Snow White and the Huntsman is in theaters), just screams “Harvard” for me. Maybe if he colored his hair a darker shade of blond? Hmm. I’ll let the casting directors duke this one out. Both actors are probably up for the physical demands though, that’s for sure.
As for Taylor Kitsch, he told the LA Times that his participation in the franchise was “not going to happen.” Poor guy, he just can’t seem to catch a break after costing Disney all that money on John Carter (that it promptly made back on The Avengers, but still) and then bombing in Battleship. Either he needs a good part in another amazing franchise, or he needs a solid, memorable supporting role in an amazing indie flick. Someone, please throw Tim Riggins a bone!
(via Daily Blam, MTV, LA Times)
- Both Men and Women Can Be Heroes at the MTV Movie Awards
- You May Breathe Easy — Robert Pattinson Says He Won’t Be Playing Finnick in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
- The CW Is Developing a Very Hunger Games-Like Show Based on the Young Adult Novel, The Selection
